Ethical Problems in Evaluation Research

For some time, social scientists have been concerned with ethics in research. Much of what they have written has focused on research in general, but many of the points they raise are applicable to evaluation research in particular. Included among these concerns are informed consent, the right to treatment, the right to refuse treatment, implicit coercion, powerlessness of subjects, and, perhaps most important, external access to confidential data

Representation of Middle Eastern Culture through Belly Dance in the US

In light of the myriad misunderstandings about the Middle East and its people, this paper will seek to analyze how Middle Eastern culture has been represented in the US through the art of belly dance. This project examines what is currently known about the roots of belly dance, especially in relation to how such origins may be presented within the dance, and the first exposures that the American public may have had to belly dance through literary accounts, theatre, and design in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The representative accuracy and impact of these different sources are discussed as well as how they relate to current representations of the Middle East used in belly dance. The presence of the dance itself in the US, beginning with the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 through to current performances, is then examined to see how different aspects of the dance and the culture from which it came are either emphasized or neglected at different points in time. Building on literature reviews, observations of performances, and interviews with current performers, this project will demonstrate that, since the introduction of belly dance to the US, and by extension much of Western society, the dance has never been authentically Middle Eastern. It has always been subjected to American expectations, interpretations, and some gross inaccuracies, and has changed to such an extent that current performances are no longer Middle Eastern in origin as much as they are American

Impaired Intracellular Transport and Cell Surface Expression of Nonpolymorphic HLA-E

The assembly of the classical, polymorphic major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum requires the presence of peptide ligands and ~2-microglobulin (~2m). Formation of this trimolecular complex is a prerequisite for e~cient transport to the cell surface, where presented peptides are scanned by T lymphocytes. The function of the other class I molecules is in dispute. The human, nonclassical class I gene, HLA-E, was found to be ubiquitously transcribed, whereas cell surface expression was dif~cult to detect upon transfection. Pulse chase experiments revealed that the HLA-E heavy chain in transfectants, obtained with the murine myeloma cell line P3X63-Ag8.653 (X63), displays a significant reduction in oligosaccharide maturation and intracellular transport compared with HLA-B27 in corresponding transfectants. The accordingly low HLA-E cell surface expression could be significantly enhanced by either reducing the culture temperature or by supplementing the medium with human ~2m, suggesting inefficient binding of endogenous peptides to HLA-E. To analyze whether HLA-E binds peptides and to identify the corresponding ligands, fractions of acid-extracted material from HLA-E/X63 transfectants were separated by reverse phase HPLC and were tested for their ability to enhance HLA-E cell surface expression. Two fractions specifically increased the HLA class I expression on the HLA-E transfectant clone

It-Clefts and their Processing

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Morehead State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by Elisabeth S. Johnson on July 21, 2015

The Biopsychosocial Correlates of Chronic Pelvic Pain and Quality of Life in Women Attending a Specialty Pelvic Pain Clinic

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women causes significant disability and distress. Like other chronic pain conditions, psychosocial variables likely play as key a role in the development and maintenance of CPP as physiological ones. The purposes of this study were to use the Biopsychosocial model to determine the predictors of pain and quality of life (QOL) and to specifically examine to effect of baseline catastrophizing on 12-month pain and QOL. Methods: Secondary analysis of baseline and 12-month data collected from women presenting for CPP treatment (n = 673) at a tertiary referral center was performed. Questionnaires assessed medical symptoms, physical and mental health, abuse, trauma, catastrophizing and the main outcome measures of pain reports (McGill Pain Questionnaire) and QOL scores (adapted version of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome QOL Questionnaire). Results: Of the 673 enrolled, 401 completed baseline questionnaires. These women were predominantly middle aged (M = 35.68, SD = 9.87), married (66%), Caucasian (78%), and educated (M = 14.83, SD = 2.55). Two hundred seventy-two women completed questionnaires at baseline and 12 months and were similar in most characteristics but reported fewer incidents of trauma and abuse, improved physical health and fewer medical symptoms. Women experienced a significant reduction in pain (t (261) = 11.23, p \u3c .001) and improved QOL (t (257) = 6.78, p\u3c .001). Baseline catastrophizing was a predictor of baseline pain (R2 = .42, pβ = .46, p \u3c .001) and baseline QOL (R2 = .79, p\u3c .001; β = .71 p \u3c .001) with similar results at 12-month follow-up. While baseline catastrophizing contributed only 3% of the variance it remained a significant predictor of 12-month pain (R2 = .39, p \u3c .001; β = .18, p = .003). Unexpectedly, abuse and trauma histories were not significant predictors of pain or QOL. Conclusions: These findings contribute to the existing body of literature by confirming the complex nature of CPP and suggest that psychological processes such as catastrophizing play a vital role in CPP. Future research in CPP will benefit from the exploration of the contribution of psychological processes to CPP and the application of research from other pain conditions to gynecologic pain disorders

The HLA-E Gene encodes two differentially regulated Transcripts and a Cell Surface Protein

An HLA-E-specific oligonucleotide probe was used to study the expressioonf HLA-E. This probed etects two HLA-E transcripts, 1.8 and 2.7 kb in size, which are present in varying ratios in allt issues and cell lines investigated. We demonstrate that alternative poly(A) site usage accounts for the differential regulation of the two HLA-E mRNA species. Sequence analysis of three cDNA clones, representing the two transcripts of HLA-E, and of anH LA-E gene encoded by cosmid cd3.14, revealed identity of gene and cDNA in the 3’ untranslated region. S1 nuclease protection assays confirmed that the two HLA-E transcripts are not alternative splicing products. Introduction of cd3.14, together with human ,&m into the murine myeloma cell line P3X63-Ag8.653, resulted in a cell surface expresosf ioan HLA-class I heavy chain detectablbey indirect immunofluorescence whereas transfection into the humBaznr n expressing mouse L cell line, 527 was negative with regard to cell surface expressionC. ell surface labeling of transfectants and immunoprecipitation with a monomorphic HLA class I-specific antibodyo r an antibody against human &m confirmed the presence of an HLA-E H chain on the cell surface. These results indicate that the HLA-E gene codes for a class I H chain that can be expressed on the cell surface

bloated tubules (blot) Encodes a Drosophila Member of the Neurotransmitter Transporter Family Required for Organisation of the Apical Cytocortex

AbstractWe have identified a novel member of the vertebrate sodium- and chloride-dependent neurotransmitter symporter family from Drosophila melanogaster. This gene, named bloated tubules (blot), shows significant sequence similarity to a subgroup of vertebrate orphan transporters. blot transcripts are maternally supplied and during embryogenesis exhibit a complex and dynamic pattern in a subset of ectodermally derived epithelia, notably in the Malpighian tubules, and in the nervous system. Animals mutant for this gene are larval lethals, in which the Malpighian tubule cells are distended with an enlarged and disorganised apical surface. Embryos lacking the maternal component of blot expression die during early stages of development. They show an inability to form actin filaments in the apical cortex, resulting in impaired syncytial nuclear divisions, severe defects in the organisation of the cortical cytoskeleton, and a failure to cellularise. For the first time, a neurotransmitter transporter-like protein has been implicated in a function outside the nervous system. The isolation of blot thus provides the basis for an analysis of the relationship between the function of this putative transporter and epithelial morphogenesis

Erythema and Burning Pain in the Vulva: A Possible Phenotype of Erythromelalgia

We report a case of burning vulvar pain accompanied by erythema responding to an oral combination of a benzodiazepine and a beta blocker. The positive response to two medication classes used in the treatment of erythromelalgia supports the possibility of a localized manifestation of this disorder in the genital region

Curriculum Alignment After Reforms: A Systematic Review with Considerations for Queensland Pre- and In-service Teachers

This systematic review synthesises research on curriculum alignment to suggest considerations for the implementation of the Senior secondary curriculum reform in Queensland, Australia. It focuses on the coherence of cognitive skills in the prescribed and enacted curriculum as these are typically the least aligned curriculum components. Search methods, which followed the PRISMA model, resulted in 108 relevant articles for qualitative synthesis. Results show that alignment after curriculum reforms is typically low. The use of educational taxonomies can support curriculum alignment. Marzano and Kendall’s (2007) New Taxonomy of Educational Objectives underpins the new Queensland Senior secondary syllabi which, in line with other Australian policy, encourage the explicit teaching of cognitive skills. Research is needed on the enacted cognitive skills curriculum in Queensland and its alignment with the reformed prescribed curriculum. To promote the successful implementation of the new Queensland Senior system, pre- and in-service teachers could engage with the New Taxonomy and best practice for teaching cognitive skills